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A review by iam
Out of the Shade by S.A. McAuley
5.0
This was great!
Content warnings include: alcoholism, violence, past and present domestic violence and sexual abuse and rape of a side character (mostly off page but there are some graphic descriptions), side character attempts suicide, homophobia, internalized biphobia; mentions of drug addiction.
Most content warnings can also be found in the book's blurb!
As heavy as these content warnings sound.... I was surprised to find that Out of the Shade is not a dark book at all. In fact it was warm and really funny and witty at parts which I totally didn't expect.
I also didn't expect to like the Kensington boys - Jesse's group of friends who all grew up in the same town, a tightly knit and almost exclusive group that does everything together and is defined by their love for and loyalty to each other.
While the parents, wives and kids of these men are also very much involved, I didn't expect to like the dynamics going on. It's not exactly a small town environment, but similar, with hypermasculinity and focus on traditions very prevalent. I fully expected to be made very uncomfortable by the men's interactions - so I was completely floored when I wasn't, and instead genuinely loved the dynamics of the group.
Yeah, there are a few silly jokes about being manly men, and there's different friendships within the group, but the love and care they all have for each other was palpable at all times. And as I mentioned before, while the core group are the men, their singular families are very much involved as well.
I also liked the journey of Chuck and Jesse's relationship. They are both great characters (fleshed out and likeable, like the rest of the big cast) and I liked that the romance wasn't a straightforward line from meeting -> attraction -> dating -> minor conflict -> happily ever after. The way it was felt natural for the characters and fit their storylines very well, as well as driving home that a romantic partner isn't the solution to any and all problems.
Despite me saying it's not a dark book, there are quite a few heavy topics handled in it. Both the main characters and the side ones go and/or have gone through quite a bit.
Both the abuse and the queerphobia was handled very well, even if it was heartbreaking at times.
Especially the way Jesse views his own sexuality got to me, and it very well got the point across that representation and support matters.
There's a bit of a weight loss/getting into shape plotline going on, but it's rather minor.
A minor plotline I liked was Jesse getting more in touch with his heritage: he's biracial, with a white mother and a east polynesian dad from New Zealand.
In the Author's Note the author talks about her own experiences of growing up in such a tightly knit environment and how Out of the Shade is a very personal book, which is very apparent while reading. I'm glad she chose to publish it because it's an important, touching story on top of being a great, well written book.
I was provided with an ARC and reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
Content warnings include: alcoholism, violence, past and present domestic violence and sexual abuse and rape of a side character (mostly off page but there are some graphic descriptions), side character attempts suicide, homophobia, internalized biphobia; mentions of drug addiction.
Most content warnings can also be found in the book's blurb!
As heavy as these content warnings sound.... I was surprised to find that Out of the Shade is not a dark book at all. In fact it was warm and really funny and witty at parts which I totally didn't expect.
I also didn't expect to like the Kensington boys - Jesse's group of friends who all grew up in the same town, a tightly knit and almost exclusive group that does everything together and is defined by their love for and loyalty to each other.
While the parents, wives and kids of these men are also very much involved, I didn't expect to like the dynamics going on. It's not exactly a small town environment, but similar, with hypermasculinity and focus on traditions very prevalent. I fully expected to be made very uncomfortable by the men's interactions - so I was completely floored when I wasn't, and instead genuinely loved the dynamics of the group.
Yeah, there are a few silly jokes about being manly men, and there's different friendships within the group, but the love and care they all have for each other was palpable at all times. And as I mentioned before, while the core group are the men, their singular families are very much involved as well.
I also liked the journey of Chuck and Jesse's relationship. They are both great characters (fleshed out and likeable, like the rest of the big cast) and I liked that the romance wasn't a straightforward line from meeting -> attraction -> dating -> minor conflict -> happily ever after. The way it was felt natural for the characters and fit their storylines very well, as well as driving home that a romantic partner isn't the solution to any and all problems.
Despite me saying it's not a dark book, there are quite a few heavy topics handled in it. Both the main characters and the side ones go and/or have gone through quite a bit.
Both the abuse and the queerphobia was handled very well, even if it was heartbreaking at times.
Especially the way Jesse views his own sexuality got to me, and it very well got the point across that representation and support matters.
There's a bit of a weight loss/getting into shape plotline going on, but it's rather minor.
A minor plotline I liked was Jesse getting more in touch with his heritage: he's biracial, with a white mother and a east polynesian dad from New Zealand.
In the Author's Note the author talks about her own experiences of growing up in such a tightly knit environment and how Out of the Shade is a very personal book, which is very apparent while reading. I'm glad she chose to publish it because it's an important, touching story on top of being a great, well written book.
I was provided with an ARC and reviewed honestly and voluntarily.